Family Life

Many parents are already considering what they need to do to prepare their children for the new school year that is just around the corner. While what they will wear and do after school is essential, ensuring they know what to do about back-to-school bullies should be at the top of every parent’s priority list. Bullies will head back to school as well, and they will be ready to start picking on kids from day one.

Camp is synonymous with summer for many families. Millions of children will spend time in a summer camp this year. Parents may not realize that some of them will end up being bullied while they are there. It should be all fun and games, but with bullying being the issue that it is, parents have to take action. The good news is that there are things they can do to help combat the problem.

Young people who change schools are more likely to experience most types of bullying than other kids, as found in the comprehensive report, Characteristics of Bullying Victims in Schools. They are also more likely to be continuing victims across various years of study and have a higher risk of being victims of bullying at a new school if they have not previously been bullied. Those who have been at the receiving end of bullying are more likely to escape this plight if they change schools.

There are many places you can go to find definitions for mental health: Webster’s Dictionary, National Department of Health; National Department of Mental Health to name a few. (For those of you not residing in USA I bet your national government has an agency that also defines mental health.) Please refer to these sources if you’re interested in a formal definition. I have included some in abbreviated versions at the end of this post. I want to offer you a working definition that helps define daily habits and practices.

I often laugh at myself when I think of fun ways I can support my children. From tea parties, to dance offs, to football drills; my children definitely test my energy, flexibility, and durability! To “support” our children is to share the metaphorical weight of their positive and negative experiences and emotions. Providing support requires us to be physically, mentally, and spiritually present throughout their highs and lows

I believe I received this shirt on Father’s Day in 2015. As you can tell by the wear and tear, it’s one of my favorite shirts. I don’t remember exactly what I said when my family handed it to me, but it was probably something like, “that’s right!” Yeah teaching children to be inquisitive is important, but not more important than doing what I say when I say it! I even ran into an older gentleman who read my shirt and said, “Hey, I would do what you say too.”

Technology is integral to a child’s life. They will see it everywhere from birth and will inevitably grow up using it. It can be extremely educational, help build skills, and be a creative outlet. It can also be dangerous — predators, hackers, and other threats use technology to hurt others. We’ll teach you how to protect your children from the wide variety of threats out there, including the over-usage of technology itself.

Self-confidence is key in a human being’s professional, social, and family life, and the good news for parents of young children is that it is easy to build! Unlike self-esteem, which is more inward facing and which relates to our own sense of self and how we interact with others, self-confidence is outward-facing. It can be achieved through knowledge and practice. Essentially, the more your child does something, the more confident they become in their ability to do it well.

Oxford Languages defines trust as a “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” Trust is the foundation upon which all healthy relationships are built. It is a key enabler for parents, teachers, and mentors to bridge the communication gap and give our children a voice. With time, a trusting relationship instills confidence, opens the lines of communication, and creates a safe place for our children.

31% of Americans have been bullied as an adult, and many (43%) say that the behavior has become more accepted within the past year, according to one survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Osteopathic Association. While many are familiar with children bullying one another and the concept of adults bullying within settings like the workplace, many may not think that an adult is even capable of bullying someone significantly younger.